Air conditioner



Aug. 30, 1927. 64

C. L. BURDICK AIR CONDITIONER Filed May 4. 1925 Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,564 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. BURDICK, F WOOD GREEN, LONDON, ENGLAND.

AIR CONDITIONER.

Application filed May 4, 1925, Serial No. 27,709, and in Great BritainMay 7, 1924.

My invention relates to air conditioners, more particularl forconditioning the air in buildings sucfi as factories, warehouses,theaters, oflices, hospitals, and the like, and

its object is to provide an improved means for washing, humidifying andcooling the air which is being taken into the building.

My invention provides for discharging a spray of water, which may bebroken up by 1 means of compressed air, into the inflowing current ofnew air to intercept any particles of dirt which may be therein and thusload them with moisture so that they will be precipitated or caused tofall from the inflowing current of air and in this manner be preventedfrom entering the building. The spray of water, in addition to removingthe dust and other foreign particles from the air, humidifies and may,where desired, cool the air, thereby greatly improving the conditionswithin the room or building.

In positions where the length and shape of the duct, casing-or passagewill permit,

the spray may be pointed or directed in the direction of the current ofthe inflow of air and will thereby augment the induction.-

I By arranging a series of bafl'les, the spray may be prevented fromcarrying, too far, and the air impinging on the baflies will furthertend to arrest or eliminate impurities, but where the duct is relativelyshort, the spray may be mounted to deliver against or across the currentof air. Where the invention is used in connection with an air inductionsystem caused by a jet of compressed air considerable advantage may begained owing to'the fact that the compressed air may be utilized forboth operations, i. 'e., for producing the current of air and forbreaking up the spray of water. In such a combination, the air pressurefor the air washing element may be reduced by applying any of the wellknown types or other suitable reducing valves. The volume of airmay alsobe reduced by providing a smaller outlet for the air washing elementthan for the current induction air, or the air may be reduced in bothpressure and volume.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;1 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Figure 4;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and i Fig. 4 isan end view from the left hand side. of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a cylindrical casing having anopen inlet end 2 and an open outlet 3 which may be tapered slightly asshown, restricted or otherwise formed.

The casing 1 may be mounted in a wall,

window, partition, or the like 4, with its inlet drawing from thedesired source and its outlet directed or discharging into the desiredroom. The open inlet end 2 may be provided with a cowl 5, and acompressed air nozzle or spray 6 is mounted axially in the forward endof the casing l and induces in the end of the casing of the sprayingnozzle 10 as by means of radial screws 14,

these screws being threaded through the base of the nozzle casingradially-thereof with their ends projecting into a groove in the neck ofpinion 12, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A threaded shaft 15 constitutes apin or needle valve for the nozzle. Its forward end, for example, may betapered to vary the outlet of the nozzle by axial movement of the needlevalve and the opposite end of the shaft forming this valve has threadedengagement with the bevelgear 12. The shaft '15 is slidably mounted innozzle 10 and may be prevented from turning as by having a portion ofits length shaped square or non-circular and cooperating with asimilarly shaped hole in a part. ofthe casing of j the'nozzle. The shaft15 is moved axially and the needle end thereof advanced or withdrawn byturning a shaft 16 having a finger piece or knob 17 on its outer end forturning it and extending radially through and journaled on the casing at19 and provided at its inner end with a bevel gear 20' meshing with thebevel gear 12' to turn the same and move the shaft 16 axially thereby.

The spray nozzle 10 discharges the Water or other liquid supplied to itby the pipe 9 toward or into a series of bafiles mounted within thecasing 1 between the outlet of the nozzle 10 and the forward part of thecasing 1. The spray of water which issues from the nozzle 10 is brokenup by means of the compressed air supplied by means of the pipe 8 and ispositioned to discharge into the current of air flowing through thecasing 1 from the inlet 2. The first battle 23 may have a cylindricalportion mounted within the casing 1 and an open ended converging conicalbody portion 24 shaped to supplement the current of air which is passingthrough the casing. The next bafile 25 may be mounted on rods 26 carriedby the baffle 23 and another baflle 27, said last baflie 27 having acylindrical flan e portion mounted within the casing 1. g further baflleor baflles 28, as may be required, may be linked up and supported by therods 26. The bafile 25 is shown as being proportioned to leave anannular-space between it and the interior of the casing-1 and inaddition it may have a relatively small central opening 29. The nextbafiie 27 fits within the casing,'leaving no annular space around it,but is provided with a relatively large central. opening 30. The nextbaffle 28 again leaves an annular space between it and the casing, saidbafiies thereby forming a tortuous passage ahead of the nozzle 10 andbetween it and the outlet of the device.

A relatively narrow draining funnel with a drain pipe 33 may serve tocarry away the surplus liquid together with the deposited soot, dirt,and other forelgn particles.

In use, the discharge from the nozzle 10 which may be controlled by theknob 17 comprises a water or other liquid spray broken up by thecompressed air supplied to said nozzle and this broken up spray isdischarged ahead of the baflies 23, 25. 27 and 28 into the current ofair flowing through the casing 1. The liquid spray intercepts anyparticles of dirt or other foreign substance which may be in the currentof air and loads them with moisture so that they will be precipitatedand caused to fall to the bottom of the casing 1 where they may enterthe drain 32 through the openings 34 and carried away with any surplusliquid by the drain pipe 33. The dust and foreign particles are therebyprevented from entering the building, and it will be obvious that thismethod of washing. the air will load the air witha certain amount ofmoisture and may also cool the same. If the outside air entering by wayof the inlet 2 is hot and dry, the evaporation will lower thetemperature and greatly improve the conditions within the room orbuilding. If it is desired to raise the temperature of the air or reducethe relative humidity, the air may be passed over heated surfaces ormixed with a current of heated air or otherwise treated for heating ordrying. The nozzles 6 and 10 may be supported by the pipes 8 and 9 or inany other suitable or preferred manner.

It will also be obvious that this system can be used to wash the airwhich is being recirculated within a building, by providing anadditional inlet for air in that part of the casing l which is withinthe wall and providing suitable dampers or gates. IVhile I have shownand described, my invention in connection with a system in which the airis inducted into the building or room by means of an escaping jet ofcompressed air discharged from within the casing 1, it is to beunderstood that thecurrent of air supplied to the room may be blown bymeans of a fan or an impeller or it may otherwise set up, also that I donot intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described.

I claim:

1. In combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, baifle meansmounted in the casing and forming a tortuous passage between the inletand outlet, means for projecting a currrent of air through the casing tosaid outlet and for discharging a liquid spray into said air currentbetween the inlet and said outlet, said air current project ing andliquid spray means comprising a nozzle having a controllable outlet andliquid and air lines leading to said nozzle.

2. In combination, a generally cylindrical easing having an inlet at oneend and an outlet at the other end, a pair of bafiles mounted at theirmargins in said casing and provided with relatively large centralopenings, supporting rods carried by said .baflles, a second pair ofbafiies alternately disposed with respect to said first bafiies andcarried by said rods, said second baflies being peripherally spaced fromthe interior of the casing, a nozzle mounted between the inlet and saidbaflies and liquid and air lines leading to saidnozzle.

3. In an air conditioner, a casing, a nozzle, means for supplying aliquid under pressure to said nozzle, means for supplying air underpressure to said nozzle to cause a spray of liquid globules and air tobe injected axially into said casing to induce an air current therein,means for increasing the velocity of said air current including atapered restriction in the path of said spray and having a port, andstaggered baflie means disposed behind said port and adapted to collectliquid globules.

4. In combination, a horizontally disposed casing communicating at bothends with the atmosphere, a spray nozzle within the casing forprojecting water toward the outlet end thereof and throughout asubstantial portion of the eross-areaof the easing, bafiies beyond thenozzle causing the air leaving the casing to assume a tortuous path oftravel, the battles preventing the liquid from being discharged throughthe outlet end of the casing, the nearest to the nozzle of said bafllesbeing of frusto-conical shape and converging away from the nozzle,

10 the area of the opening of the last mentioned bafile being less thanthe cross-area of the spray from the nozzle at said opening, and meansat the lower portion of the casing for collecting and taking of? theWater and foreign materials entrapped thereby discharged from thebullies.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of April,192-5.

CHARLES L. BURDIOK

